A few years ago I prayed for a dog, I love animals, had just lost two German Shepherds and felt the sting of loneliness without a pet. Since I have had pets my entire life, they are very much a part of my existence. My husband accepts this and falls in love with everyone I have brought home.
I was driving on the street in our small town, that passed by the animal shelter. For a fleeting moment a thought rushed through my head, stop in and just take a look. I had no intention of getting a dog right away, but thought "oh what the hey, might as well just enjoy the animals."
In the first stall there was the dog I had prayed for. I desired a Pom mix because I didn't want to pay a lot of money for a Pom. In the stall was a Pom-Papillon mix! The cutest little guy, I took him for a little walk, when we returned to the stall to put him back while I would think about taking him, he went "spread eagle" on me and refused to go inside. So I thought oh well, guess I'll just take him.
As I was getting ready to take Sparky home that face of the little dog he was with, flashed through my head. That little "Jack Russell" stood there with big eyes looking while his head was cocking from side to side as if to say, "take me too." I went away feeling so bad because I couldn't take him.
As I drove away from the parking lot with Sparky, I asked the Lord to find that little Jack Russel a home. I felt bad for days, shooting up arrow prayers that God would give that little guy a home.
Several months passed, I had to take my quilt to the laundromat because my machine was too small to handle it. I took Sparky into the laundromat with me as we waited for the quilt.
Into the laundromat walks a lady, she came up to Sparky and proclaimed, "OH, that is the dog that was in with my little Jack Russel when I was looking for a dog. I came back to get the Jack Russel and your dog was gone, you must have taken him."
I know it may seem silly to some, but I hate animals to be lonely, it was God's kindness to me that He cared enough about my feelings to tell me that little Jackie got a home. I was so overcome with joy about answered prayer that I cried on the way home, praising God.
Then there was another grief I experienced in the loss of one of my favorite cats. We have had several cats taken by the coyotes up here, so when my favorite cat went missing I assumed he was gone forever. I cried and felt discouraged about ever getting another cat. I told the Lord I missed that cat so much, it still hurt to think about him, I wished I could have him back. I was driving down that road again, another thought entered my head, "just look at the kitties." So, I dropped in, Sparky was with me. I left the dog in the car to go see cats. In the room with about 40 other cats was an identical cat to the one I lost. He was the largest cat in the place and followed me everywhere as though he knew me.
Upon the decision to take the cat, I asked the lady at the shelter if the cat did well with dogs. She didn't think so because she took him home to meet her,.....get this......four German Shepherds. LOL, so I thought I'd better get Sparky and let them meet. Sparky and the cat took to one another as though they already knew each other. I did get the lost cat after I got Sparky, so the thought ran through my head, "could this be the very same one?" I never found out, but I took the cat home and Sparky and the cat are best friends, they sleep together, play together and follow one another everywhere.
I discuss nearly everything with God, if I don't get what I want, I always know he understands. Even if I don't understand, He comforts me. I believe God wants us to be so in tune with Him that we tell Him everything in honesty, knowing He already knows anyway, no point in pretending with God.
Then the thoughts run through my head, God has seen fit to answer silly things like animal pets, how much more would he answer my prayers for persecuted Christians around the world. I pray for my brothers and sisters around the world, I never know if God is answering or not, but I can be assured He hears and will do His will.
Most of the time I pray for the persecuted Christians to be very strong, emotionally, physically and spiritually! I feel bad that they are persecuted, but I know they will have a special reward in heaven for their martyrdom. Sometimes I pray for their persecutors too, that because of the loyalty of the believers they would see the strength of God in them.
What a blessing to be authentic, pretending is such a burden, always the fear of being found out that keeps us stressed. Might as well say it all to God all the time, He already knows anyway, hiding from God is down right silly.
Philippians 4:6-7 "6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.…"
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